Quick Starting Falcons Overwhelm Pirates, 49-12

(Courtesy Photo/colfaxfootball.comA host of Colfax defenders swarm a Wheatland running back Friday night. The Falcons improved to 5-0 with an impressive 49-12 route of the previously undefeated Pirates.

(Courtesy Photo/colfaxfootball.comColfax's Sam Quinlan , white uniform, breaks free from a Wheatland defender to score on of his three touchdowns in Friday's 49-12 win over the Pirates.

(Courtesy Photo/colfaxfootball.com)Colfax.s Nolan Karbowski, right, comes up with the first of two pass interceptions he had in Friday's 49-12 win over Wheatland. At left is Chancey Trentman who also came up with an interception in the win.

WHEATLAND - If the Colfax Falcons were looking for a signature hang-your-hat on-it type effort as they prepare to begin defense of their Pioneer Valley League football championship next week, they answered the call here Friday night - and then some.
Scoring on all six of its first half possessions and shutting down a high-powered Wheatland running game, Colfax turned a much anticipated inter-sectional battle of unbeaten Div. IV powers into a lopsided rout as the Falcons led 42-0 by intermission on their way to a final, 49-12 drubbing, of the host Pirates.
Now 5-0 overall on the season, the Falcons hit the Pirates (4-1) early and hard and never allowed the hosts to get into the game as they intercepted three first half Pirate passes and bottled up star Wheatland running back Tyler Larcom.
Larcom, who had entered the game with three straight outings of 240 yards or more on the ground, was held to just 49 yards on 11 first half carries. In the second half with the contest already decided, Larcom’s statistics got a boost from a 66-yard scoring run. On the night he finished with 135 yards on 15 packs.
“We had a very good week of practice and it really showed tonight,” said Colfax quarterback Austin Young who didn’t attempt a pass in the second half but still was eight of 11 through the air for 134 yards and three touchdowns, all to Sam Quinlan. “With PVL a week away, this should give us a nice boost.”
Almost lost in Colfax’s impressive win was the fact the Falcons also handed veteran coach Tony Martello his 150th career win. Now in his 16th season at Colfax, Martello’s record is 150-33 for a remarkable .712 winning percentage.
“The win was nice to get but it’s really about the kids,” said Martello following the game. “Getting to this point means that through the years I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of good players and coaches around me.”
Colfax, which will travel to Center this Friday to open its PVL season, did the majority of its damage early as Quinlan – who had a nice all around game with 85 receiving yards and 64 more yards on the ground, was joined in the touchdown parade by Hunter Perez who also added four scores and recorded his third 200-yard plus rushing night by gaining 203 yards on 19 carries.
Quinlan snared scoring pass of 9, 18 and 21 from Young while Perez tallied his touchdowns on jaunts of six, nine, nine and 17. Austin Perry was also a factor for the Falcons with 41 more yards on just five carries. Meanwhile, Nehemiah Bailey chipped in with 23 more yards on seven carries.
Colfax’s defense was keyed by Nolan Karbowski’s two interceptions and another by sophomore Chancey Trentman. The Falcons sacked Pirates quarterback Justin Bragg five times with Cory Wilhelm leading the way with a pair.
Also standing out on the defensive side of the ball were strong outings from Benton Brown, Henry Freer, Jeremy Dawson and Roger Lillie. Kicker Ben Rooker was also a perfect 7 for 7 on extra point boots.
With the opening of PVL games on the horizon, Martello is anticipating a real battle for league honors.
“We have a very strong league this season,” said the Colfax coach. “I’m very impressed with both Placer and Bear River. It should be an exciting race.”
Colfax JV 31 Wheatland 0 – Tanner Kane and Jake Mederios each ran for a touchdown and Christopher Harshman and Kyle Bryant caught scoring passes from Michael Wilson as the Falcons improved to 4-1 with the Thursday night win. Wilson was 12 of 15 passing for 185 yards and also added an 18-yard field goal. Defensive stalwarts were Bailey Bean with an interception and Brenden Flagg with a fumble recovery.